Congresswoman looks to limit authority of FERC

A U.S. Representative from southwest Missouri wants to reduce federal authority over hydroelectric projects.

Vicky Hartzler's congressional district includes part of the Lake of the Ozarks, which is created by the Bagnell Dam, a hydroelectric project of Ameren Missouri. Controversy erupted last year when Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that more than 4,000 structures, including personal homes and boat docks, did not conform to the utility's land management plan and might have to be removed.

The FERC reversed its ruling last November, and Ameren later amended its land usage plan to exclude most of the homes, but Hartzler wants to avoid future controversy.

She'll introduce legislation next week that limits FERC's authority to issues that deal only with power generation, giving the local governments the ability to gain more control over shoreline management.